The Best Spanish Language Movies for Spanish Class
The process of learning Spanish should not be relegated to the textbook
and whiteboard. It is important to breathe life into the classroom by bringing
in guest speakers and employing audiovisual resources that help round out
Spanish lessons, and inspire cultural interest that can further your students'
desire and motivation to learn Spanish through a variety of channels. One
of these channels is Spanish-language film.

Great Spanish language movies to watch to learn Spanish
Does watching movies in Spanish help improve your language skills? To
date every linguist and educator we've spoken to has agreed that it does.
Our students—and our own experience—corroborate this. Now,
the most overlooked medium for teaching Spanish is cinema from Spain.
So here is a Top 10 List of the Best Spanish Movies.
Films from Latin America are listed next. If you're learning Spanish,
watch these movies because you'll race ahead of your classmates and it's
much more fun than homework. These entertaining and educational Spanish
movies are available on DVD, Blu-Ray, Web streaming and some on VHS. Here
you can find Spanish movies for high school Spanish classes, middle school,
college, elementary—any level, it's here.

Belle
Epoque
Starring Spanish actress Penelope Cruz, this movie chronicles the brief
period of bliss and jubilation in Spain immediately preceding the Civil
War and brutal crackdown by dictator Francisco Franco. The looming tragedy
offers a sense of tension to the too-good-to-be true lives of the characters,
adding the uncanny and surreal to what otherwise could actually be considered
a light romantic comedy. Click
here now to buy Belle Epoqu on DVD
or the rare
VHS version hard to find except here!

Sex
and Lucia
This dreamy, beautiful film chronicles a writer's romance. You'll find
yourself drawn in by the sensual cinematography and compelling storyline.
If you're looking for what's a good Spanish film to watch while learning
Spanish, this one is idea because the slower pace makes it easier to catch
more of the dialogue. Buy
it on DVD here at a discounted price
Or on
Blu-Ray

Un
Chien Andalous This classic by the famous Spanish surrealist filmmaker Luis
Buñuel continues to be studied as one of the seminal works of the
genre. Despite its crude, early-days-of-film feel, it nevertheless captivates
and horrifies. One is reminded that surrealism was a political movement
as much as an artistic one, especially considering recent revelations
that Spanish Republicans used to show captured fascists this film as a
form of torture. Nowadays, however, your students will appreciate the
edginess. One more reason to keep showing up to Spanish class! Click
here now to buy Un Chien Andalous

You can find easy movies for Spanish learners at clearance rates
and even no cost at all.

Now, the last four of our top 10 Spanish films come from Latin America.
Before going any further, note that sociocultural advantages in Spanish
cinema are virtually nonexistent. In fact some of the most interesting
cinematic works are coming from the Central and South America. There is
a huge variety of excellent films coming out of countries ranging from
Mexico to Argentina, that have one prizes throughout the world including
the United States and Europe. Any of these can be considered the best
Spanish movies, not just for language learning but also for their plot,
originality and aesthetic content.

Spanish language cinema is an excellent way to peer into the culture
of the countries of origin. The Spanish being spoken reflects local dialects,
and challenges the viewer to listen closely, in order to more fully understand
the plot and poetry of the words being spoken on tape. Paradoxically,
some of the best Spanish language movies for new speakers are the ones
which feature obscure dialects. You never know. So, if you are a Spanish
instructor looking for an effective and entertaining way to immerse your
students in the Spanish language and culture of Spanish-speaking countries,
then check out the top Spanish movies coming from some of the most unsuspected
corners of the filmmaking world. here is a list of just a few more of
the best Spanish movies for Spanish class:

Maria Full of Grace
This is the thrilling story of a beautiful Colombian woman forced to become
a "mule" or drug runner for a big cartel. Bunches of cocaine
are wrapped up in condoms, which she is then forced to swallow before
bording a plane to the United States. If all goes according to plan, she
will then poop the goods out at the drug house in New York. But if any
of the condoms breaks in transit, she dies. You may be asking, is Maria
Full of Grace appropriate for Spanish class? High school level, absolutely.
Even middle school, we believe, but would recommend parental permission
forms to be filled out. Buy
it cheap on DVD
or click
here to buy the crisper, clearer Blu-Ray version.
Y Tu Mama TambienFeaturing latin heartthrob Gael Garcia Marquez and a captivating
story that won over North American viewers, Y Tu Mama Tambien (And Your
Mother, Too) will win any Spanish teacher major points for showing this
Spanish language film in the classroom, or assigning it on the class syllabus.
But in addition to being popular and enduringly trendy, this Spanish language
film is fit for the classroom because it is quite substantive, with an
instructive illustration of upper class Mexican culture portrayed as two
close friends, teenage boys from different social backgrounds, go on a
road trip together through Mexico in pursuit of love and adventure. Accompanying
them, of course, is a beautiful girl who sleeps with both of them, and
ultimately causes so much tension in the relationship, that the friendship
of the two boys is at stake. Needless to say, there are valuable life
lessons found in Y Tu Mama Tambien.

A story well performed and told, this is among the best Spanish language
movies for Spanish class because it exposes to Spanish spoken for Spanish
speakers. If your students simply watch the movie and cognitively reach
for the humor, as well as the words that compose the fundamental story
line, then this Spanish language film will help dramatically stretch their
language ability, and encourage them to learn more. There's little wonder
this is the most popular Spanish movie in America, a story about two young
Mexican guys, an ideal Spanish teacher film because after all, anything
not understood in a film this great will have your students hitting the
books in no time flat, inspiring in them a hunger for the Spanish language
so as to more fully enjoy a movie like Y Tu Mama Tambien the next time
they watch it.Click here to watch it instantly on your computer or buy the DVD or Blu-Ray disc!

The Holy Girl (La niña santa)
One of the most innovative and exciting films on the world stage, La Nina
Santa is exemplary of the surging Argentinean New Wave cinema movement
that began earlier in this decade. The story revolves around a couple
of girls staying with their families during a strange summer vacation
at a mysterious hotel in the verdant, misty region of sub-tropical Argentina.
The girls are devoutly religious, but also discovering their teen sexuality.
Enter a conference of ear, nose and throat surgeons that descend upon
the hotel, and passions are awoken.

An amazing characteristic of the films of Lucrecia Martel, one of Argentina's
foremost directors, is the fact that her movies explore potent themes
of desire and yearning, yet seldom is anything actually realized. Not
only does this create the necessary tension to drive a powerful story
line, but it also provides a much more accurate reflection of life than
does the typical foremulaic Hollywood screenplay.

So if you are looking for a Spanish language movie for Spanish class,
remember that this requires a certain level of sophistication. It is one
of the best Spanish movies ever made. At the same time, as a teacher you
by now probably know not to underestimate the intelligence of your students.
Pay special attention to sounds in this movie - not only the sounds of
the words being spoken in Spanish, but the sounds of the hotel, the flies
buzzing, the ghostly theramin and the moments charged with spiritual energy
and anticipation.

To buy La Nina Santa or purchase the English-language version "The
Holy Girl", by Lucrecia Martel, then you can find deals on Internet
retailers such as Amazon. While the price of a new copy of this Spanish
language movie might be what you would normally expect for a foreign language
independent film, these online retailers often provide DVDs at clearance
prices, which results in a great bargain for shoppers, especially Spanish
teachers and professors who are on a budget, but looking for good learning
resources, and the best Spanish movies for Spanish class. Click
here now to buy a super cheap DVD copy of this rare movie NOW while supplies
last

The Official Story (La historia oficial)
What would you do if you found out that your adopted daughter's biological
mother was tortured and killed by the government - the same government
that ran the adoption center? A crisis of conscience drives the plot in
Luis Puenzo's The Official Story, a wrenching tale of a mother's search
to find her daughter's family while her husband is adamantly resistant
to her finding out the truth. Universal themes of parenthood and adoption
intertwine with the dark past of Argentina's Dirty War which saw tens
of thousands of its citizens tortured, killed or disappeared.

The Official Story (La
historia oficial) is a superb resource for students of Spanish, because
it provides a human interest angle into the history of Argentina through
a vehicle of excellent cinematic worth and merit. Not only is a fascinating
and unbelievably tragic part of Argentina's past exposed - with all of
its political, cultural, and emotional content handled extremely well
and powerfully - but the narrative requires close attention to the words,
and makes learning Spanish and paying attention to the film integral to
understanding the full scope of the story.

This movie is recommended as one of the best teachers' resources for
Spanish class because the plot is clear and straightforward, yet the words
are not dumbed-down. This movie was made as much for an Argentinean audience
as any other work of Argentinean cinema, which means it won't demean your
students or leave them bored. (Of course, there is ample room for discussion
of the similarities between Hollywood Cinema and La historia oficial editing
techniques, just one optional question to be included in the bilingual
Official Story movie worksheet). The point is that while everyone in your
Spanish class may not understand every last word, the story can be followed,
and the way it is filmed makes it engaging. They will understand what
they can, and likely be intrigued enough to come back and watch the movie
again. And for that, they will have to learn more Spanish. That's the
fundamental trick to a La historia oficial lesson plan. Click here to buy it now on DVD for cheap or stream it on your computer instantly over the Internet!

So what better teaching aid than one that inspires your students to learn
more? This is one of the most riveting Spanish movies about the disappeared.

Still looking for more films? We show you where to buy movies in Spanish
at discount prices. There are plenty to choose from, even for Brits seeking
to immerse themselves in the language for college entrance exams, films
for Spanish A-Level tests include any that improve your listening and
comprehension skills. We've made sure that everything listed on this page
meets the Spanish A-Level listening requirement. Check out these great
Spanish language films for students as well as general interest viewers
that our readers have suggested. Most of these Spanish movies easy to
understand for Spanish I and Spanish II classes: enough script content
can be deciphered by the attentive student to make it worth while. Naturally,
they will have to make note of words and phrases they don't understand.
That's why they are in the classroom learning the language. A few of these
titles are movies based on Spanish literature. Most of these Hispanic
movies are appropriate for class. We've done our research and listed these
films in Spanish at the absolute lowest prices available on the Internet.
This means that we not only show you how to buy Spanish films here, such
as which retailers and online hosts allow you to order copies of discs
and cassettes in the mail delivered to your door OR stream them on your
computer instantly, but also how you can purchase them at low
cost, clearance prices and sometimes even for free or .01 cent:

Spanish Language Movies
Here are top Hispanic flicks from all around the world which we would
watch over and over again if we could—some of them we have! Apart
from the sheer enjoyment, it helps ingrain the inherent language lessons.
You can buy or rent the DVDs and streaming rights online, and of course
these are the best movies in Spanish on Netflix, too:

Balseros with Maria Celeste Arraras,
Guillermo Armas. Directed by Carles Bosch and
Josep Maria Domènech The typical Balseros movie
worksheet includes questions about plot, which for a language-driven curriculum
is essential to determining how much your students understand. This movie
in particular is a good gauge of comprehension level in the classroom.

Casi Casi starring Marian Pabon and Tony
Valles. Directed by Jaime Valles. All good Casi
Casi movie lesson plans begin by explaining the cultural context in which
this film is set.

Carol's Journeywith Maria Barranco and Rosa
Maria Sardà. Directed by Imanol Uribe.
A good Carol's Journey teacher resource would be any of the accompanying
literature that tells you how to teach this movie. As a professional and
conscientious educator, you of course will want to know whether or not
the content is suitable to the age group you are teaching. Is Carol's
Journey good for middle school Spanish? You can find out here if you answer
a few questions, such as what level language skills your students have,
how they respond to videos in the classroom setting, whether the parents
are ok with the content, and whether Carol's Journey activities will make
advance language learning and improve test results. One of the best ways
to find out is to review it yourself, or with other faculty from the language
dept. Luckily, it's easy to grab a discount copy off the Internet, so
you don't have to worry about making any waves where the district's budget
hawks are concerned.

Cinco AmigasMovie questions for Spanish class pertinent to this
film can be found on the review site and many sites that sell copies of
this film.

Evita starring Antonio Banderas and Madonna.
Before ordering this DVD online, teachers will need to answer one essential
question: is Evita a good movie to watch in Spanish class? Many instructors
consider the historical context and star appeal strong reasons for including
this film in the curriculum, while others may take issue with the somewhat
controversial nature of the content. Regardless of one's moral stance,
however, students everywhere have found the cinematic version of Evita's
life to be captivating.

Machuca
T his is the story of two children's friendship and how it becomes strained
in the aftermath of the military coup in Chile. It is superbly produced.
Due to the intense subject matter you may be asking, is Machuca appropriate
to show in Spanish class? Absolutely. Even to young children: this could
be one of the movies to show in 1st year spanish class, provided sufficient
explanation is given. While the subject matter is important and heavy,
there is no obscene violence, it is safe to show in the classroom. No
matter what age, your students will be thoroughly entertained.

ValentinThis excellent movie for Spanish class stars Alejandro
Agresti, Rodrigo Noya and Julieta Cardinali
and was also written and directed by Alejandro Agresti.
The film is both complex and charming, in that it involves the conflict
between a young boy's fantasy about what is possible, and the real limitations
that come crashing down onto his world. When teaching the movie Valentin,
the instructor should highlight the cultural context of Argentina's rich
film tradition which includes a series of coming-of-age films that have
preceded this one. This may be perceived as one of the better films for
elementary school Spanish, but its content is also highly suitable for
older viewers as well.

Viva Cubastarring Jorge Milo, Malú
Tarrau Broche and Luisa María Jiménez Rodríquez.Directed by Juan Carlos Cremata Malberti and
Iraida Malberti Cabrera. This story is of two young children
who are fond of each other, but are kept apart by their parents' class
and political differences. A good Viva Cuba movie lesson plan would involve
a comparison to the Chilean film Machuca. Both are among the best films
for learning Spanish.

ButterflySpanish and French language. One of the most important
movies with Spanish themes.

Sugar If you want to watch the movie Sugar in Spanish
class, be aware that much of the story is in English. It is a great story
though, about the experience of immigration seen through the eyes of a
Dominican baseball recruit. This is one good example of the many English
movies in Spanish to learn the language at a comfortable pace. When subtitles
are present, they allow for students to hear English, and see the written
Spanish translation. This makes teaching the movie Sugar in Spanish class
much easier to facilitate. As a general point, and as much as we hate
to say this, even movies that have been dubbed over into Spanish can be
helpful to the nascent language learner, because the Spanish is usually
easier to understand than that of the original version.

Biutiful which is a play on the pronunciation of "Beautiful",
this new Spanish film just released starring acclaimed actor Javier
Bardem and directed by Amorres Perros, Babel and 21 Grams director
Alejandro González Iñárritu is highly
recommended.

Telenovelas are a cultural phenomenon. They are the Hispanic equivalent
to a soap opera, they are popular throughout Spain and Central and South
America, and people commonly get hooked. Acclaimed Spanish director Pedro
Almodovar is famous for drawing inspiration for his high brow flicks from
this decidedly low brow source. Here are a few that
our fans especially like:

An educational movie like Fridastarring Salma Hayek
and Mía Maestro, for Spanish culture enrichment is also highly
recommended as one of the more informative Spanish videos for students.
Overall, the list on this page includes elementary and high school appropriate
Spanish films and good movies for beginning Spanish classes. If you're
looking for educational videos in Spanish, or dealing with a wide variety
of Hispanic topics, check out the other educational options listed and
reviewed on this site, including Spanish videos for the classroom, including
these DVDs
about Spanish culture and for language lessons, check out these videos
for teaching Spanish